iisc.uiowa.edu

Washington 11

DIRECTOR LETTER

Cedar Rapids

Muscatine

2013 – 2014 COMMUNITY PARTNERS

Dear Friends,

The Iowa Initiative for Sustainable Communities (IISC) enjoyed another successful year in 2013-2014 thanks to the support of University of Iowa faculty, staff and students and our wonderful community partners: Cedar Rapids, Muscatine and Washington, IA. The 2013-2014 academic year was the most active to date for the IISC with over 170 students across 9 different campus departments completing 25 projects with over 50 community partners. Brief project descriptions are included in this report, but I encourage you to visit our website at iisc.uiowa.edu to read full project reports and learn about the outstanding work completed by UI students.

The commitment and cooperation of our community partners is essential to our success. They provide valuable support to UI students and faculty, while coordinating projects that reflect their community needs. Please read the sections for Cedar Rapids (pg. 3), Muscatine (pg. 7) and Washington (pg. 11) to see the staff that worked so devotedly with us over the year. In addition, the IISC would not be possible without an outstanding roster of UI faculty, staff and students. Their energy, creativity and commitment to better the lives of Iowans is evident in every project. The Provost’s Office of Outreach & Engagement, led by Associate Provost Linda Snetselaar, continues to provide leadership and guidance, along with our Faculty Director Chuck Connerly and the entire IISC Advisory Board. Finally, our dedicated IISC staff ensure that the daily work of the IISC continues to progress.

We are thrilled to be working with three new excellent community partners for the 2014-2015 academic year: Decorah/Winneshiek County, Iowa City and Sioux City. I encourage you to follow our projects’ progress via Facebook, Twitter or our website, or contact any of the IISC staff for more information. The mission of the IISC to enhance the sustainability of Iowa’s communities while transforming teaching and learning at UI requires collaboration among all of us, and I look forward to your continued involvement and support.

All the best,

Nick BensonDirector of Iowa Initiative for Sustainable Communities

Photo courtesy of Cedar Rapids Metro Alliance

Photo courtesy of Greater Muscatine Chamber of Commerce & Industry

Photo courtesy of Washington Chamber of Commerce

Cover photo courtesy of University Communication and Marketing

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2013 – 2014 BY THE NUMBERS

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Environmental Ste

ward

ship

S

ocia

l Res

ponsibility

Economic Prosperity

SUSTAINABILITYLong-term economic, environmental,

and cultural health and vitality.

DEFINING SUSTAINABILITYIndividual community engagement projects emphasize one of three sustainability components: social responsibility, economic prosperity, or environmental stewardship. This results in a holistic approach to address sustainability in each community.

The projects outlined in this report are listed by sustainability category and color-coded according to the circles on this chart. Look for these corresponding colored dots l l l

next to each project title.

MISSION STATEMENTThe Iowa Initiative for Sustainable Communities (IISC) is a campus-wide effort at the

University of Iowa to enhance the sustainability of Iowa’s communities through projects

that match community needs with the expertise and resources of faculty and students.

CEDAR RAPIDSThe Iowa Initiative for Sustainable Communities partnered

with Cedar Rapids for the 2013 - 2014 academic year. Cedar

Rapids has done tremendous work to recover and re-develop

after the devastating flooding in 2008 that inundated much

of the downtown and surrounding neighborhoods. The IISC

worked with the City of Cedar Rapids and several local non-

profit organizations, such as the Czech Village/New Bohemia

Main Street District and Brucemore Historic Estate. Projects

focused on economic development, cultural development and

sustainability assesment.

Thank you to our Cedar Rapids community partners, including

Assistant City Manager Sandi Fowler, Czech Village/New

Bohemia Main Street Director Jennifer Pruden, and Brucemore

Historic Estate Executive Director David Janssen.

“The urban and regional

planning students wowed not

only our local community,

but also a statewide audience

with their professionalism

and dedication to helping

communities tackle the

challenge of determining

whether or not a SSMID is

right for them.” —Jennifer Pruden Executive Director Czech Village/New Bohemia

Main Street District

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COLLEGE OF PUBLIC HEALTH

Health Campaign Promoting Community-Building with MOAIs for the Blue Zones Project™ l

Public Health graduate students worked with the Cedar Rapids Blue Zones Project™ staff to enhance engagement in MOAIs (groups of individuals who form social networks to support healthy behaviors) among target demographics in Cedar Rapids. In particular, students worked to target high school students, the aging population, and faith-based organizations around walking and cooking MOAIs. Students conducted focus groups with target populations and developed new communication campaigns for Blue Zones Project™ staff to use in their work. URBAN & REGIONAL PLANNING Evaluation/Development iGreenCR Program l

The iGreenCR was developed in 2011 as a coordinated strategy to promote Cedar Rapids’ sustainability efforts. Students conducted research to evaluate community awareness of sustainability and the current iGreenCR program. Students developed a report card based on

the iGreenCR elements and a sustainability plan that connected to the Cedar Rapids’ sustainability guiding principles. Students identified metrics to measure success and publicize the efforts to the community.

ARTSSHARE Czech Village/New Bo Window Wonderland Arts Display l

In collaboration with ArtsShare, graduate students in the School of Art and Art History worked with local businesses in the Czech Village/New Bohemia Main Street District to design window displays for the holiday season. This year’s project, dubbed the “Window Wonderland,” was developed to encourage holiday

CEDAR RAPIDS PROJECTS

l Social Responsibility l Environmental Stewardship l Economic Prosperity

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“This is the first thing on my resume

for every job application and has

been the thing people most want

to talk about in interviews or

professional conversations.”

—Cedar Rapids Urban Planning Student

shoppers to purchase gifts locally in the Main Street District. A friendly competition among businesses with window displays resulted in a record number of voters. Czech Village/New Bohemia Main Street District is an example of a sustainable and livable neighborhood in Cedar Rapids, where residents can live, work and play within walking distance of each other. JOURNALISM & MASS COMMUNICATION Using Marketing and Technology to Promote Brucemore Historic Estate l

Communication students researched the Brucemore Historic Estate— Iowa’s only National Trust Historic Site—to develop and implement a marketing plan. They focused on current and prospective membership, direct competition, and current policies and practices. Students used their findings to create a comprehensive report and both electronic and hard copy materials for promotional use.

URBAN & REGIONAL PLANNING Attracting and Retaining a Quality Workforce in Cedar Rapids l

One concern facing Cedar Rapids employers and community leaders is the struggle to attract and retain a quality workforce. Anecdotally, leaders believe this is because of a lack of quality housing, minimal nightlife, and a lack of shopping and other amenities. This project evaluated the current workforce of Cedar Rapids and determined the gap between supply and demand in the labor market. Students sought to understand factors that influence the ability of a city to attract and retain new workers by holding focus groups and collecting data. A particular focus of the project was attracting and retaining young professionals (workers under 40). Students surveyed other cities with strong young professional workforces to propose steps that Cedar Rapids can take to become a more attractive place for young professionals.

URBAN & REGIONAL PLANNING SSMID Planning, Creation & Implementation l

A self-supported municipal improvement district (SSMID) would create the necessary funds to maintain recent streetscape improvements to the Czech Village/New Bohemia Main Street District in Cedar Rapids and allow staff to move forward with new development. Stu dents conducted research on how to best create a SSMID. Students held public meetings and worked with staff to acquire the necessary support to pass a SSMID. From this research, a SSMID tool kit was developed, which includes materials to educate all Iowa communities on the benefits of a SSMID. A sub-section of this project identified additional financing mechanisms for the district. Students developed a sustainable financing plan for the area to diversify funding sources, grow the budget, and allow for increased staff, community services, marketing and project financing.

MUSCATINEThe Iowa Initiative for Sustainable Communities partnered with

the community of Muscatine for the 2013 – 2014 academic

year. Muscatine is a community of 23,000 located on the

Mississippi River in eastern Iowa. In its process of completing

a comprehensive plan, Muscatine’s Community Improvement

Action Team worked alongside the IISC to develop projects that

implemented goals and objectives of the master plan.

Thank you to our Muscatine community partners, specifically the

Community Improvement Action Team led by Rich Dwyer and

Gary Carlson.

“The IISC and Muscatine

Partnership program

has brought a breath of

fresh air to our community.

The students came in with

fresh perspectives and cre-

ative ideas to help open our

eyes and minds to so much

more that we could be doing.” —Rich Dwyer

Community Improvement Action Team Co-Chair

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URBAN & REGIONAL PLANNING Connectivity Master Plan & Wayfinding lStudents developed a bike and pedestrian master plan to help improve the connectivity of Muscatine transportation and recreation infrastructure. The students’ final report evaluated current infrastructure and created a plan to improve connectivity between walking and biking trails, sidewalks, streets, bus routes, and points of interest in the community. Students also created a mobile wayfinding app that offers a 360 degree tour of Muscatine’s points of interest.

COLLEGE OF PUBLIC HEALTH Children’s Nutrition Strategies & Interventions lGraduate students in the College of Public Health worked with the YMCA, Sunset Park After School Program, and local preschools to develop health intervention projects that focused on reductions in childhood obesity through behavior change counseling. The interventions included training on motivational interviewing, clarifying values, and moving families toward action. This project complimented work being completed by the Blue Zones Project.™

SOCIAL WORK Social Justice Intervention Plan lGraduate students applied their social work training to develop a plan to enhance public participation and leadsership among the community’s Latino population. Community-based research involving secondary data and stakeholder interviews produced a needs and strengths assessment and students identfied best practices for improving public participation. Analyzed and synthesized information was used to develop a realistic macro-level intervention plan.

IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF DESIGN Sustainable Dog Park lIISC was excited to partner with the Iowa State University College of Design and PLACE program for the research and design of a sustainable dog park. Students surveyed best practices for dog parks in similar communities and recommended amenities including water, water features, ground covering, benches, pavilions, fencing, walking paths, waste control among others. A 3D model and landscape designs of the proposed dog park were completed by the team.

CIVIL & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING Recreational Trail System lThe City of Muscatine aimed to increase recreational opportunities by expanding its existing trail system. Students completed engineering plans for constructing new trails. Tasks included identifying the layout, designing the cross-section of the trails, designing bridging structures for waterways and ravines where necessary, and designing and locating ancillary structures to support trail activities.

CIVIL & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING Regional Water Detention Plan lMad Creek traverses the east side of Muscatine and is prone to flash floods. The City wanted to research a regional storm water detention plan for properties north of the current flood structures. Students completed a regional hydrologic and hydraulic analysis of the watershed north of Muscatine. Tasks included estimating storm water runoff under present and future development scenarios, locatig a detention facility to reduce impact of flooding on properties, and designing an outlet structure and routing of the discharge.

MUSCATINE PROJECTS

l Social Responsibility l Environmental Stewardship l Economic Prosperity

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“I was provided with hands-on expe-

rience [...] through the process of

developing an intervention plan and

passing it off to the stakeholders

for implementation.”

—Muscatine Social Justice Student

CIVIL & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING Northeast Corridor Project lThe City of Muscatine encouraged commercial development in the northeast section of the city. Students analyzed the original land use plan against actual development in the Northeast Corridor. Students researched and proposed enhancements to the concepts contained in the original plan. Tasks included analyzing traffic impacts, planning and designing additional road connections, analyzing design of proposed and existing intersection, designing and layout of sewer extensions, and investigating impacts on storm water management.

CIVIL & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING Welcome Center lMuscatine is home to an award- winning soccer facility. The City wanted to explore adding a Welcome Center close to the recreational fields to encourage visitors to explore thier community. Students completed a site design for the center complex, as well as the strucural design of the Welcome Center. The building was designed to utilize natural light and as a place to hold different types of events.

URBAN AND REGIONAL PLANNING Mississippi Riverfront Redevelopment Plan lThe Mississippi River is one of Muscatine’s greatest assets. New development seeks to improve the aesthetics of the area, but a plan is needed to guide strategic growth along the riverfront. Students surveyed best practices of similar communities’ riverfront redevelopment efforts and solicited community input to identify the best uses for the land. Four alternative themes were proposed for land use; the preferred altnerative was a working ecosystem riverfront.

RHETORIC Digital Narrative lIn collaboration with UI’s Iowa Digital Engagement and Learning (IDEAL)’s “Iowa Narratives Project,” students worked with groups in Urban & Regional Planning to develop digital texts that help tell the story of the Mississippi Riverfront Redevelopment project and the Bike and Pedestrian Plan. Rhetoric students designed digital texts and podcasts of their stories.

MARKETING INSTITUTE Branding of Muscatine lStudents in the College of Business Marketing Institute completed a year-long study and evaluation of Muscatine’s community brand in co-operation with the Muscatine Cham-ber of Commerce. Muscatine desires a potentional rebranding campaign in order to attract and retain young professionals, and wanted to better understand the data behind this demographic. Students used a market research study along with questionnaires and focus groups to identify reasons why some workers employed in Muscatine would rather live in other communities. Students then designed and created a new brand identity through logos and slogans based on this research.

ARTSSHARE Public Art Project lThrough a collaboration with ArtsShare, MFA student Yelena Mass created a design for a public art sculpture made entirely of recycled materials. Mass chose to create a sculpture of a bald eagle because of its importance in the Mississippi River Valley’s ecosystem. The sculpture is in comission.

WASHINGTONWashington, a city of 8,000 people situated thirty minutes

south of Iowa City, has invested significantly in its community

infrastructure over the last 10 years. A beautiful downtown square

complete with a new streetscape and a LEED-certified public

library illustrate the vibrancy of the community. Washington began

to build upon these improvements through partnering with the

IISC to enhance the City’s marketing and tourism efforts, develop

new recreation areas, and bring public art downtown.

Thank you to our Washington community partners, including

Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Michelle Redlinger,

Public Library Director Debbie Stanton, and City Administrator

Brent Hinson.

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“They dug up information I

was unaware of, compiled it

with comparative research,

and delivered it to us with

advice, comparisons, and

tools to implement a strategic

PR campaign that will prepare

us to pass a hotel/motel tax

in our community.” —Michelle Redlinger

Executive Director Washington Chamber of Commerce

CIVIL & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING Wellness Park l

In 2012, the City of Washington adopted a Comprehensive Plan that calls for the location of a “wellness park” that would provide space for organized recreation, multi-use open space, tennis courts, and ample parking. Students in the capstone senior design course were asked to produce three alternative design possibilities for a wellness park. The designs had to include recreation fields, an access road, a walking trail, ancillary structures, a pedestrian bridge, a YMCA facility, and a proposed location for a new water tower. The wellness park designs were presented to the City of Washington along with a 3D model and animation of one of the plans.

SCHOOL OF LIBRARY & INFORMATION SCIENCE Enhancing Children’s Resources at the Washington Free Public Library l

Graduate students worked with the Washington Free Public Library to address goals related to the library’s long-term development plans, with particular interest in the Children’s Area. Projects included evaluating the potential creation of a parenting collection and reclassifying and rearranging the Children’s Area to make it a more inviting environment for children and families.

JOURNALISM & MASS COMMUNICATION Animal Shelter Public Relations & Fundraising Campaign l

Students in a fundraising and philanthropy communications course organized ideas for a non-profit animal shelter’s fundraising campaign. Using research on the latest trends in fundraising and philanthropy, students evaluated the shelter’s past special events, marketing campaigns, and donor interests. They applied concepts and trends to organize new events, update marketing pieces, and devel-oped a donor campaign with creative ideas and key messages to better position the shelter to receive support.

WASHINGTON PROJECTS

l Social Responsibility l Environmental Stewardship l Economic Prosperity

CIVIL & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING Regional Storm Water Control l

The City of Washington desired a comprehensive approach to storm water management that blends facilities into the natural environment and increases the value of the surrounding land. Students completed a comprehensive hydrologic assessment of the northwest watershed in Washington and presented three alternative designs to mitigate flooding over West Main Street. Students had to estimate the amount of storm water runoff under current and future development scenarios, choose a location of a detention facility, and design an outlet structure, the route of the discharge, and aesthetic enhancements of the basins as focal points of the proposed parks. This

comprehensive plan will help preserve natural areas and protect plant and animal habitats, increase value of adjacent land, enhance the park system, and reduce flooding. MARKETING INSTITUTE Community Branding l

Students worked with the Washington Chamber of Commerce to rebrand Washington as an attractive place for visitors and residents alake. Students created an activities guide that provides information on area events, where to eat and visit while traveling, and recreational opportunities. Students also helped create a brand identity for Washington, including creating the tag line “Discover a Classic,” and a Brand Standards Guide to be used when creating new marketing materials.

ARTSSHARE Washington Free Public Library Mural Painting l

In collaboration with ArtsShare, Erin Rappleye, a graduate student in the MFA program, designed a 2-story mural on the back of the Washington Free Public Library. This mural is a part of a larger effort to provide public art and enhance the downtown. The mural is expected to be completed in the Summer 2015. JOURNALISM & MASS COMMUNICATION Hotel/Motel Tax Strategic Communications l

Washington is one of a few Iowa communities that does not have a hotel/motel tax, which would tax guests who stay at the city’s hotels. The taxes generated would be put into a fund for community improvements, which could be parks, tourism attractions, and other amentiites. Students researched similar communities in Iowa with a hotel/motel tax and created marketing materials for the general public to promote adoption of a hotel/motel tax.

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“I liked that we got to be really cre-

ative with the project. I felt like our

class had some freedom to do what

we wanted, and the client really

appreciated that creativity.”

—Washington Journalism Student

Photo courtesy of Ashley Lindley

University of Iowa Office of the Provost 111 Jessup Hall Iowa City, IA 52242

www.iisc.uiowa.edu iisc@uiowa

facebook.com/IISCUIowa

@IISC_UIowa

@IISC_UIowa

Office ofOutreach & Engagement

THE IISC HAS IMPACTED 14 IOWA COMMUNITIES SINCE 2009.

THE IISC HAS IMPACTED 14 IOWA COMMUNITIES SINCE 2009.Siouxland Interstate Metropolitan Planning CouncilDecorah & Winneshiek County*

Charles City

Dubuque

Oskaloosa

Anamosa

Cedar Rapids

Iowa City

Muscatine

Columbus Junction

Washington

Burlington

Wellmancurrent partners past partners*Decorah is also a past partner from 2009

DAVID A. BENNETT Geographical & Sustainability Sciences

JENNIFER BUREK PIERCE School of Library and Information Science

ELIZABETH A. CHRISTIANSEN Office of Sustainability

KAJSA E. DALRYMPLE School of Journalism & Mass Communication

LESLIE J. FINER Division of Performing Arts, ArtsShare

PAUL F. HANLEY College of Engineering

LINDA G. SNETSELAAR Office of the Executive Vice President & Provost

PEGGY E. STOVER Tippie College of Business, Marketing Institute

CHARLES C. SWANSON Hancher Auditorium

ADVISORY BOARDIISC STAFFNICK BENSON Program Director

SARAH SANGIOVANNI Program & Administrative Services Coordinator

HAILEY COURTNEY Communications Coordinator

CLAIRE RICHMOND Graduate Assistant

CHUCK CONNERLY Faculty Director